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POHow to avoid 'the local variable may not have been initialized'?
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  1. POHow to avoid 'the local variable may not have been initialized'?
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    copied!<pre><code>/*This is a program that calculates Internet advertising rates based on what features/options you choose. * * */ import java.util.Scanner; public class InternetAdvertising { public static void main(String[] args) { Scanner in = new Scanner(System.in); int numberOfWords; //I assigned 0 values to both as Eclipse suggested float textCost = 0; float linkCost = 0; float graphicCost; //&lt;=25 words is a flat fee of $.40 per word plus Base fee of $3.00 final float TEXT_FLAT_FEE = 0.40F; final float TEXT_BASE_FEE = 3.00F; //&lt;=35 words is $.40 for the first 25 words and //an additional $.35 per word up to and including 35 words plus Base fee of $3.00 final float LESS_OR_EQUAL_THAN_THIRTYFIVE = 0.35F; //Over 35 words is a flat fee of $.32 per word with no base fee final float MORE_THAN_THIRTYFIVE = 0.32F; System.out.println("Welcome!"); System.out.print("Enter the number of words in your ad: "); numberOfWords = in.nextInt(); if (numberOfWords &lt;= 25) { textCost = TEXT_BASE_FEE + (TEXT_FLAT_FEE * numberOfWords); } else if (numberOfWords &lt;= 35) { textCost = TEXT_BASE_FEE + (TEXT_FLAT_FEE * 25) + (numberOfWords - 25) * LESS_OR_EQUAL_THAN_THIRTYFIVE; } else if (numberOfWords &gt; 35) { textCost = numberOfWords * MORE_THAN_THIRTYFIVE; } String addLink, advancePay; char link, advPay; final float LINK_FLAT_FEE = 14.95F; final float THREE_MONTH_ADV_DISCOUNT = 0.10F; System.out.print("Would you like to add a link (y = yes or n = no)? "); addLink = in.next(); link = addLink.charAt(0); link = Character.toLowerCase(link); if (link == 'y') { System.out.print("Would you like to pay 3 months in advance " + "(y = yes or n = no)? "); advancePay = in.next(); advPay = advancePay.charAt(0); advPay = Character.toLowerCase(advPay); switch (advPay) { case 'y': linkCost = (3 * LINK_FLAT_FEE) - (3 * LINK_FLAT_FEE) * THREE_MONTH_ADV_DISCOUNT; break; case 'n': linkCost = LINK_FLAT_FEE; break; } } else { linkCost = 0; } String addGraphic; char graphic; System.out.print("Would you like to add graphics/pictures” + “(S = Small, M = Medium, L = Large or N = None)? "); addGraphic = in.next(); graphic = addGraphic.charAt(0); graphic = Character.toUpperCase(graphic); graphic = Character.toLowerCase(graphic); switch (graphic) { case 's': graphicCost = 19.07F; break; case 'm': graphicCost = 24.76F; break; case 'l': graphicCost = 29.33F; break; default: graphicCost = 0; } float gst, totalBeforeGst, totalAfterGst; final float GST_RATE = 0.05F; totalBeforeGst = textCost + linkCost + graphicCost; //textCost &amp; linkCost would not initialize gst = totalBeforeGst * GST_RATE; totalAfterGst = totalBeforeGst + (totalBeforeGst * GST_RATE); System.out.printf("\t\t%-16s %11s\n", "Category", "Cost"); System.out.printf("\t\t%-16s %11.2f\n", "Text", textCost); //linkCost would not initialize System.out.printf("\t\t%-16s %11.2f\n", "Link", linkCost); //textCost would not initialize System.out.printf("\t\t%-16s %11.2f\n", "Graphic", graphicCost); System.out.printf("\t\t%-16s %11.2f\n", "Total", totalBeforeGst); System.out.printf("\t\t%-16s %11.2f\n", "GST", gst); System.out.printf("\t\t%-16s %11.2f\n", "Total with GST", totalAfterGst); } } </code></pre> <p>I'm almost done with this code and Eclipse suggests that I assign 0 values to <strong>textCost</strong> and <strong>linkCost</strong>. Is there any other way to go around this problem. If I don't assign 0 values they get an error (The local variable XXX may not have been initialized). Can someone explain to me why this happens even though I have both variables assigned with equations?</p> <p>Thanks.</p> <p>EDIT: I did as suggested and declared the variables only when I'm going to need it. I also added some comments.</p>
 

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